Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert blasted LeBron James on the team's Web site. (CLEVELAND PLAIN-DEALER)

There is a lot of smoke emanating from northeast Ohio. Irate Cavaliers fans are burning LeBron James jerseys and T-shirts, and there is steam coming out of Dan Gilbert’s ears.

The Cavaliers owner was absolutely livid, and rightfully so, when James went on national TV Thursday night to tell the whole world that he is ditching Cleveland for Miami.

“In this fall … man, this is very tough … I’m going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat,” James told Jim Gray during a one-hour made-for-TV event televised live on ESPN.

“That was the conclusion I work up to this morning,” James said. Then, he explained, “I feel like this is going to give me the best opportunity to win, and to win for multiple years. And not only to win in the regular season and to win five games in a row or three games in a row, I wanted to be able to win championships and I feel like I can compete down there.”

As soon as LeBron uttered the words “Miami” and “Heat,” Cavaliers Nation fell hard. It must have felt like someone had just punched them in the gut and then kicked while they were down. Or, better yet, Cavs fans now know it feels to get dumped in public, have beer poured over your head and watch your ex leave the bar with a hot-looking chick who barely speaks English. Cleveland just got bamboozled by one of their own, a guy who they have worshiped and revered since he was 16 years old.

Hours after the devastating announcement, Gilbert wrote an open letter to Cavaliers fans and posted it on the team’s Web site. Gilbert wrote:

“As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight: “I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

You can take it to the bank.

But Gilbert didn’t stop there. He continued to blast the self-proclaimed “King James,” telling the Associated Press that James showed his true colors Thursday night and claimed that he “quit” on the Cavaliers during Games 2, 4, 5 and 6 in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics.

“Watch the tape,” Gilbert said. “The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar. People have covered up for him for way too long.”

LeBron James' pre-game powder routine will be moving to South Beach (ASSOCIATED PRESS).

Then, taking a page out of Stephen King’s made-into-movie novel “Thinner,” Gilbert slapped the “Curse of White Man from Town” on James and promised that the “Cleveland Curse” has now been lifted because James will be carrying that hex with him to South Beach.

“The good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called ‘curse’ on Cleveland, Ohio,” Gilbert said. “The self-declared former ‘King’ will be taking the ‘curse’ with him down south. And until he does ‘right’ by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma. Just watch.”

Should LeBron be concerned about a curse? Maybe not right now, but the minute the Heat start losing multiple games, James’ knees and elbows mysteriously begin to swell and his highlight-reel moves turn into an episode of “Bloopers & Practical Jokes,” then maybe he should seriously consider drawing blood from his hand and dripping it into a plate of strawberry pie. Or, he could just hire some guy named Richie “The Hammer” Ginelli to do the dirty work for him.

Growing up in nearby Cleveland, James should be well versed in the sad, sad history of professional sports teams in Ohio. Whether it’s bad luck or simply cursed, Clevelanders have endured many, many heartbreakers: The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot Over Ehlo, The Indians’ Ninth-Inning Collapse in the 1997 World Series, and now The Betrayal.

Those who are close to James say that the two-time NBA MVP painfully wrestled with this decision for months, but ultimately he simply could not pass up an opportunity to play with his good friends and Olympic teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.

Wade says the Heat now have a huge bulls-eye on their back, while James has become public enemy No. 1 to 29 teams in the league.

Bulls fans despise him, Knicks fans will treat him like he’s Reggie Miller and boo him profusely when shows his face at Madison Square Garden, and his cronies may have to pay their way to watch Jay-Z’s concerts from here on out.

And then there is Cleveland. James should seriously consider moving his whole family out of Akron and into South Beach because it’s no longer safe to live in his hometown. The people of Cleveland, Ohio, have already severed ties with LeBron and vilified him as the 2.0 version of Art Modell. LeBron James has become LeBart Modell.

So, unless James wins a championship with the Heat and soon, The Curse of White Man from Town will be hovering over him like The Curse of the Bambino or The Curse of the Billy Goat.

Good luck, LeBron.

First, it was the Bulls. Then, it was Cavaliers. Then, it was the Knicks. Now, the Heat have become the front-runners.

Predicting which team LeBron James chooses to sign with is kind of like forecasting when or where the next earthquake will hit. Amid all the speculation and so-called experts’ opinions on where James is going to play next season and for years to come, the reality of it is this: no one knows for sure what the two-time NBA MVP will do.

Actually, there are a few things we know for sure: the Los Angeles Clippers have NO SHOT at signing LeBron James. Let’s just get that out of the way. And the New Jersey Nets are only in the running because LeBron doesn’t want to embarrass his good friend Jay-Z.

So, that leaves four teams in the hunt: Miami, Chicago, New York and Cleveland.

LeBron and his management group, also known as The Four Horsemen from Akron, are keeping a very tight lid on the situation and only LeBron knows what LeBron wants. For now, LeBron is telling everyone to wait in line before he serves up his decision, which comes at 9 p.m. EST today and televised live by ESPN.

Have I mentioned that the Clippers have no shot? Just checking.

A one-hour special on the Worldwide Leader? Really? Seriously? This is utterly ridiculous. No one player in the NBA deserves this much power and this much attention.

Thanks to Team LeBron – comprised mainly of his buddies from high school and led by a guy named Maverick – ESPN’s family of networks have morphed into LeBron TV. Each time you tune in there is some news about LeBron James and his free-agency decision.

He made the jump from high school to the NBA, so he never experienced the whole college recruiting process. He’s definitely making up for it, though. No matter how sophomoric the idea is, it’s definitely LeBron’s way of reliving college without having to attend classes. It wouldn’t surprise me if James lined up baseball caps in front of him, the same drama-filled moment when a high school kid makes his college commitment.

Maybe, LeBron should do the show “Rock of Love” style with LeBron playing the role of Bret Michaels. But instead of backstage passes, LeBron should hand out headbands to the winning suitors. I’mwilling to bet the Clippers would be the first team dismissed. Just a gut feeling.

I can see it now. LeBron, while holding the last headband, asks Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert how much Cleveland loves him. Then, Bron-Bron turns to Heat owner Micky Arison and asks him if South Beach is big enough to house three basketball All-Stars.

Now that’s reality TV at its best!

But I digress. So, again, why is LeBron going on national TV to announce his intentions? He could have done so through a live press conference holding his kids, just like every other athlete who takes the podium. Hasn’t he gotten enough coverage the past month (the past two years if you’re a Knick fan)? If he has indeed already made up his mind to move to Miami, why would he subject Cleveland fans – the very people who worship the ground he walks on – to a very painful rejection and completely humiliate them publicly?

Spurning the Cavs would be like to stabbing your best friend in the heart in front of all your closest friends and family, and making your mom clean up the mess. OK, maybe that’s a bit extreme but you get the point.

Dru Joyce, James’ high school coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary, once said that LeBron is an entertainer and enjoys a little drama. Joyce knows LeBron really well, and maybe he’s on to something. This certainly explains all the bells and whistles of Thursday’s one-hour made-for-TV event. It’s all about feeding LeBron’s massive ego.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh stole some of his thunder Wednesday when both announced that they would team up in Miami. But Thursday belongs to LeBron and only LeBron. If this doesn’t satisfy LBJ’s insatiable appetite for attention then nothing will.

It was bad enough that he made high-ranking representatives from the Nets, Clippers, Knicks, Heat and Bulls fly to Cleveland to meet with him and his LRMR team. Each team gave three-hour presentations on how much they would love to have LeBron. For lack of a better term, it was three hours of “ass kissing.”

This is shades of what Kobe Bryant did in 2004 when he was being courted by the Lakers, Clippers and Bulls. Bryant really had no intention of leaving the Lakers, but he somehow convinced the Clippers and Bulls that he was serious about playing elsewhere.

As much as I hate to admit it, I’ll probably end up watching the LeBron James TV special. Sadly, it will be a ratings bonanza, with special interest from audiences in New York, Chicago, Miami and Cleveland. It’s like watching a bad Ben Affleck movie. When there is nothing else good on the TV guide, you are forced to watch it because you want to see how it ends.

Whatever the end result of this long, unnecessary, dragged-out process, James will be portrayed as an egotistical superstar who is way too in love with the spotlight. He will also be vilified in a lot of cities, but nothing compares to what Cleveland will unleash on him if he doesn’t stay with the Cavaliers.

If James decides to turn his back on the Cavs, he may not be able to return to his home in Akron. It would be comparable to Art Modell moving the Browns to Baltimore.

Brace yourselves Cavs fans. There is a good chance this story may not have a happy ending.

The Cavaliers ran away with the best record in the NBA at 61-21, but the Magic was arguably the best team after the All-Star break with an 18-3 mark the last two months of the regular season.

Stan Van Gundy will not win coach of the year, but he should get serious consideration for how he has managed the ship. He has been able to incorporate Vince Carter without disrupting the team’s perimeter set-up with Dwight Howard in the middle.

Though Orlando took and converted the most 3-pointers in the league this season, the fate of the franchise starts and ends with Howard, who recently became the first NBA player to lead the league in rebounds, blocked shots and field-goal percentage. He is still perceived to be “too nice” to be a dominant player. However, another trip to the Finals will help Howard erase that label.

Unlike last year, the Cavaliers will have a tougher road to the conference finals. The Cavs have a date with a very underrated Chicago Bulls team in the first round, and then they have a potential matchup with the Boston Celtics in the second round.

It will not be a huge disappointment if the Magic failed to reach the Finals. But if the Cavs get bounced in the conference finals (or sooner), there will be tsunami warning in Cleveland and a funeral service will be held for the Cavaliers in the state of Ohio. No pressure, LeBron!

OneManFastBreak.net predicts the winners of each round in the Eastern Conference playoffs:

FIRST ROUND

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Chicago Bulls: With Joakim Noah in the lineup, the Bulls are a lot better than their 41-41 record. Noah allows the Bulls to blitz pick-and-roll plays and is a terrific rebounder. Noah’s matchup with Cavs’ high-energy guy Anderson Varejao is worth the price of admission. The Cavaliers will have to re-incorporate Shaquille O’Neal in their offense and defense plans, which will not be easy. The Bulls will try to attack the Cavs with a flurry of pick-and-rolls, and Mike Brown will have to decide if he wants to go with a smaller lineup to counter the Bulls’ quickness. The Cavs should advance, but the Bulls will be a tough out. Cavaliers in 7.

The Cavaliers and LeBron James (middle) will have their hands full against the Bulls' Luol Deng (left) and Joakim Noah. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Miami Heat: The Celtics have the better team in this matchup, but the Heat has the best player in Dwyane Wade. If Wade gets loose and averages 30 points in this series, the Celtics are in for a long series and could get eliminated. Boston is running on fumes while the Heat finished strong and moved up three spots in less than a month. KG will never KG again so Celtic fans need to face the truth. Speaking of The Truth, the Celtics live and die with Paul Pierce. He is Boston’s go-to guy in the clutch and needs to play at an MVP level to cancel out Wade, who is good enough to win two games by himself. Celtics in 6.

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (7) Charlotte Bobcats: Orlando matches up better with Charlotte than Cleveland does, so expect the Magic to punish the Bobcats with a heavy dose of Dwight Howard inside. Larry Brown will try to rotate centers Tyson Chandler and Nazr Mohammed against Howard, and Brown will probably force Howard to pass out of double teams. The Bobcats are such a bad road team that I don’t see them winning more than two games in this series. Orlando should be able to win the first two at home and could split the two games in Charlotte. Magic in 5.

(3) Atlanta Hawks vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks: The injury to Andrew Bogut changes the entire complexion of this series. The Bucks were rolling until Bogut went down with a scary injury (wrist/elbow) and it will be very difficult for them to take advantage of Atlanta’s small frontline without a legit post player. The Bucks also don’t have an answer for super sub Jamal Crawford, who could become the star of this series. Hawks in 4.

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (4) Boston Celtics: The last regular-season meeting between these two teams was very chippy so expect a very physical series. The Celtics have the talent to bring down the Cavs, but Father Time hasn’t very kind to the C’s this season. KG is a shell of himself, and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are on the wrong side of 30. LeBron James, by himself, took the Celtics to 7 games in 2008 with Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and Sasha Pavlovic as his runningmates. LeBron has a better supporting cast this time. Cavaliers in 5.

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (3) Atlanta Hawks: History shows that the Hawks struggle against teams with an inside game, and the Magic has the best inside presence in the Association in Dwight Howard. Howard, who attended high school in the Atlanta area, should dominate his matchup against Al Horford or Zaza Pachulia, forcing Hawks coach Mike Woodson to double team. This will open up Orlando’s perimeter game, which is right up its wheelhouse. Magic in 5.

CONFERENCE FINALS

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (2) Orlando Magic: The Cavaliers’ entire offseason was built on beating Orlando in the playoffs. The Cavs got Shaq to guard Dwight Howard and acquired Antawn Jamison to counter Rashard Lewis. The big question mark for Orlando is Vince Carter. Can Carter come through in the clutch and become Vinsanity or will he shrink into Wince Carter? I’m leaning towards Wince Carter. Last year, LeBron James tried to do too much and it cost the Cavs the homecourt and the series. This Cavalier team is the best team LeBron has ever had in Cleveland and it would be a mistake if James doesn’t use them against an Orlando defense geared to stop him. Is LeBron ready to trust his teammates? If he does, then the Cavs advance to the Finals. If not, the Magic will advance to the Finals. I want to pick Orlando, but I’m just not convinced that Vince will do the right thing in the fourth quarter. Cavaliers in 7.

NBA.com writer Shaun Powell said it best – it’s all about the cheddar. It’s really all about the money, teams that are trying to save money and teams who are just laughing at the luxury tax and building for right now trying to win a championship.

So, pending all these players pass their physicals, here are the winners, losers and teams that broke even during the NBA’s liquidation sale, better known as the trading deadline.

Winners: Cavaliers, Bobcats, Rockets

The Cavaliers got their highly coveted All-Star forward to serve as LeBron James’ wingman. No, it’s not Amare Stoudemire. But in the eyes of many observers, the acquisition of Antawn Jamison on Wednesday as part of a three-team deal that involved the Cavaliers, Wizards and Clippers was probably the better move in the long run.

“It’s clearly a win-win for Cleveland. They get an All-Star piece and they didn’t have to give up [J.J.] Hickson,” said Covers Handicapping Expert Ted Sevransky.

Jeff Sherman, oddsmaker at the Las Vegas Hilton, noted that the Cavaliers were already a hot pick to win the NBA title and the Jamison deal definitely increased their chances of advancing past the Eastern Conference.

“It would have more of an effect in them getting out of the East,” said Sherman, who added that the Cavaliers were 3-2 favorites to win the title prior to the Jamison deal. The Las Vegas Hilton had the Cavs at 3-1 to start the season.

“There are only a handful of teams that can make The Finals,” Sherman said. “Boston is aging andrapidly regressing. KG is not 100% and [Paul] Pierce is breaking down. The gap is widening in the East with Cleveland as the favorite.”

Kevin McHale, who now works for NBA TV, also likes the Jamison trade, particularly if the Cavaliers face the Magic at some point in the playoffs.

“I think this trade was destined to happen ever since they lost to Orlando in the playoffs where they couldn’t match up with Rashard Lewis,” McHale said on Thursday. “They needed somebody to attack Rashard Lewis, and Antawn is going to make Lewis defend him.”

Two teams that also helped themselves, according Sevransky, are the Charlotte Bobcats and the Houston Rockets.

According to league sources, the Bobcats acquired Thomas from the Bulls for Flip Murray, Acie Law and a draft pick. Thomas, who will be a restricted free agent after this season, is an athletic forward who fits perfectly in head coach Larry Brown’s scheme.

“Tyrus Thomas is a huge upgrade for Charlotte. Larry Brown will make him into a star,” said Sevransky, who also likes what Houston did to its roster by getting rid of Tracy McGrady’s fat contract and bringing in Kevin Martin from Sacramento.

“It’s a huge trade for Houston. They needed a perimeter scorer and Kevin Martin is an All-Star. Love the move,” Sevransky said of the reported three-team deal that moved Martin, Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries to Houston while the Kings got Carl Landry, Joey Dorsey and Larry Hughes, and the Knicks received McGrady and his expiring $23 million contract along with Sergio Rodriguez.

Also, keep in mind that the Rockets obtained the Knicks’ first-round pick in 2010, which could potentially be a lottery pick. Rockets GM Daryl Morey really earned his paycheck this week and should be nominated for executive of the year.

For the Knicks, the silver lining is that they are no longer tied to Jeffries’ contract, freeing them up to sign not one but two maximum contracts this summer.

Losers: Wizards, Celtics, Knicks, Bulls, Heat

Even though they cleared a boatload of cap space for the big free-agent class of 2010, the Knicks didn’t exactly improve themselves this season and are hoping – or more like praying – that they can lure LeBron or Dwyane Wade, or both, this summer.

McGrady is a rent-a-player for the next three months with a 50-50 chance that he’ll re-sign next season. But his current condition – two bad knees, a bum shoulder and an aching back – is not going to change the Knicks’ pitiful position.

“The Knicks were bad before and now they are worse. I want no part of the Knicks,” says Sevransky. “[McGrady] will put up points but he’s not the impact player he once was. The reality is, his best days are long, long gone.”

New York has four players under contract for next season – Danillo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry and Toney Douglas – and if GM Donnie Walsh can’t convince any of the megastars to come to the Big Apple, the Knicks could potentially field a D-League team next season.

All week long the Heat and Cavs were in hot pursuit of Stoudemire, but the Cavs got impatient and struck a deal with the Wizards while the Heat was stuck waiting on Suns GM Steve Kerr, who got cold feet.

Miami tried to salvage the day by going after Utah’s Carlos Boozer, but the deal fell apart. The Heat can still sign Stoudemire this summer when he could opt out of his contract, but Pat Riley and Heat owner Mickey Arison must now sweat out the next few months because Wade is not happy he didn’t get his super sidekick, and when a superstar is not happy that can’t be good for business.

The Bulls got rid of Thomas and John Salmons in exchange for some expiring contracts, a clear indication that the Bulls will sacrifice a playoff run this season and join in on the LeBron, D-Wade and Chris Bosh sweepstakes.

Chicago (27-26 SU) is currently in sixth place in the East, two games behind Toronto (29-24 SU). But giving up on a young talent like Thomas and putting all their eggs in this summer’s free agent basket appears to be a desperate move for a team that made a fantastic playoff run just a year ago.

The Celtics made one reported move before the deadline, acquiring three-time slam dunk champion Nate Robinson from the Knicks for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker. Though Robinson (13.2 PPG) has better offensive numbers than House (7.2), Robinson may not be the right fit for the C’s.

“I wouldn’t trade Nate Robinson for Eddie House. House is their best perimeter shooter. Sorry, Ray Allen. I just don’t see this helping Boston,” Sevransky said.

While the Cavaliers continue to stock pile talent for the stretch run in the regular season and the playoffs, the Wizards have basically put their entire roster in one big garage sale.

The first buyers were the Mavericks, who closed the first major deal during All-Star Weekend when they acquired Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood from…you guessed it…the Wizards in exchanged for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton.

Teams That Broke Even: Mavericks, Suns, Blazers, Clippers

You can’t fault the Mavericks for trying to get better. Was it enough to punch their ticket to the Western Conference finals? The jury is still out.

Sherman is not infatuated with this deal, but Sevransky believes Dallas scored major points with the move, making this seven-player deal a push.

“That was a marginal deal,” Sherman said. “I don’t see a great difference between Butler and Howard; maybe a slight advantage for Dallas.”

The Lakers, who opened as 5-2 favorites to win it all, are now at 7-5, according to the Las Vegas Hilton’s latest odds. Boston and Orlando are at 8-1, and Denver is at 12-1.

“We just don’t see anyone besides L.A. and Denver in the West,” Sherman said.

Howard and Butler are very similar in terms of scoring, but Butler brings more of a defensive attitude to a Mavs team that desperately needs to get tougher. Butler was reportedly unhappy with the way he was being used by Flip Saunders and having Jason Kidd as a set-up man has him very excited.

“The Mavericks helped themselves tremendously,” Sevransky said. “They bring in a scorer like Butler and a defender like Haywood, and I would make them the No. 2 team in the West behind the Lakers and ahead of Denver.”

Another marginal deal is the transaction between the Blazers and Clippers that sent Clippers forward/center Marcus Camby to the Blazers. Sherman said the line jumped by just 1/2 a point from 6 1/2 to 7 from Tuesday’s Clippers-Blazers game.

“Brandon Roy is still the driving force on that team,” said Sherman, who called the deal a push. “I don’t think it did much. All they’re going to ask [Camby] to do is defense and rebound. He’s not going to add more scoring.”

The biggest name that kept surfacing leading up to the trade deadline was Stoudemire. But at the end of the day, Stoudemire is STILL with the Suns.

“Without getting into specifics, if we’re going to move a guy who is an All-Star player, a real productive player, we have to do really well,” Kerr said on NBA TV. “The only reason why we were talking to teams was because Amare could opt out at the end of the year and obviously we are at risk of losing him and not getting anything in return.

“So, the whole idea here is let’s find out what’s out there, we’ll evaluate it. If it’s good enough and it helps us get better in the future, then we’ll do it. If not, we move forward. And what any team offered was just not good enough.”

This article also appears on Covers.com.

LeBron James scored 12 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter as the game turned into a playoff-style, possession-by-possession struggle. Bryant tried to match James shot for shot, but his impatience and single-minded approach ultimately led to the Lakers’ downfall. The Cavs won, 93-87, despite not having point guard Mo Williams (who is out a month with an injured shoulder) in part because Bryant tried to beat James instead of beating the Cavs.

Bryant led the Lakers with 31 points but it took 31 shots for him to reach that total. He made just 12 field goals for the game and was 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter for four points.

LeBron James not only won his individual battle with Kobe Bryant (James scored 37 points, Bryant had 31), but he also led his Cavaliers to second victory over the defending world champs. (NBAE/GETTY IMAGES)

Cleveland’s physical defense forced the Lakers out of their comfort zone and the Cavs big men scored a surprising draw with the more talented Lakers frontline.

Shaquille O’Neal outscored his younger counterpart Andrew Bynum 13 to 7, J.J. Hickson (11 points, 14 rebounds) had a stalemate with Pau Gasol (13 points, 8 rebounds), and Anderson Varejao (11 points, 8 rebounds) nearly matched Lamar Odom’s output (10 points, 10 rebounds).

“Their big [players] were very active, very physical and wore us down,” said Bryant told the Los Angeles Times. “I think last year we were probably a little hungrier and played a little harder,” he said. “This year, when we played them two times, they were the hungrier team. They sense that they want to win a championship, they want to go after it, so they’re playing with a sense of urgency that we played with last year.”

Bryant was quick to blame his bigs for a poor effort, but what he should be doing is blaming himself for not trusting his supporting cast. The Lakers are a good team when Bryant takes over, but they are a championship team when Bryant gets his teammates involved.

Sure, Gasol needs to be tougher, Bynum needs to be more active and Odom needs to be more aggressive. But Bryant holds the key to the Lakers’ success. He can’t get into one-on-one battles like in previous years. He is now surrounded with great talent.

The Lakers got off to a great start but then stalled in the second quarter and the rest of the game was played at Cleveland’s pace. The Lakers came into the game thinking they can exact revenge for what the Cavs did to them on Christmas Day, but now it seems the task of taking down the Cavs will be a lot tougher than expected.

“[The Cavs] are physical, tough-minded and hard-nosed-type team,” Bryant told reporters after the game.  “We have to step up and match that — that’s not part of our DNA.”

Can’t wait for Round 3 of Lakers vs. Cavs.

After Gaines sank the game-winning shot at the buzzer to lift the Jazz to a 97-96 victory over the Cavaliers in Utah, Jazz fans were signing his name. His teammates, guys he’s known only 10 days, all rushed to the court to embrace him.  Half of them probably don’t know his name!

But the fans at EnergySolutions Arena could care less that the former Georgia Bulldog guard was a late roster addition. He was the hero of the moment and a shot that would last a lifetime. A true feel-good story.

Last month, Gaines was struggling to get noticed while playing for the Idado Stampede in the D-League. This week, he is on every sports highlight and just signed another 10-day contract to be with the Jazz. Life is good for Sundiata. And can’t believe the Jazz didn’t sign him for the entire season after what he did against the Cavs.

Check out his game-winning, buzzer-beater:

Last June, I was deprived of a Kobe Bryant-LeBron James matchup in the NBA Finals when LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers were unceremoniously dumped by the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference finals. I know I’ve already asked a ton of gifts this Christmas but I would like one more present. I would like to watch Kobe and LeBron play on Christmas Day.

Sincerely, OneManFastBreak

———————————————————–

Dear OneManFastBreak:

You’ve got your wish.

The main course on the Christmas Day menu that has everyone salivating is the matchup between the Lakers and the Cavaliers at Staples Center (5 p.m. ET, ABC), featuring arguably the two best players in the Association in reigning NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant and reigning regular-season MVP LeBron James.

LeBron James will try to uncrown the real king, Kobe Bryant, on Christmas Day.

And, oh by the way, Shaquille O’Neal returns to the city he helped produce three NBA championships – as well as two very bad movies: “Kazaam” and “Steel.”

Ho!…Ho!….Ho!….

L.A. enters the marquee event with a league-best 23-4 record while the Cavaliers carry a 22-8 mark. The Cavs are on the tail end of a four-game trip while the Lakers have barely left the West Coast for two months.

The Lakers – playing in their 36th Dec. 25 game which is second only to the Knicks, who have been scheduled on Christmas 45 times – are 12-6 at home on Christmas and 20-15 overall. The Cavaliers are relative newcomers to the NBA’s long-standing tradition, making only their third appearance on Christmas in the LeBron James era and ninth overall. Cleveland is 5-0 when they play at home and 0-4 on the road.

As much as the general public and the suits at ABC would like this game to be competitive, the reality of it is the Lakers are far more superior than the Cavaliers, and the only thing Cleveland can hang its hat on is the fact that James could have a huge day and single-handedly influence the action.

However, one ace can’t trump a full house.

Ho!…Ho!….Ho!….

With the exception of guard Derek Fisher, who is barely 6 feet tall with shoes on, the Lakers boasts five studs 6-6 or taller: Bryant (6-6), Artest (6-7), Odom (6-10), Gasol (7-0) and Bynum (7-0).

The Lakers’ talent and length have been overwhelming the opposition since stealing Gasol from Memphis in February of 2008, winning a remarkable 109 of 121 regular-season games.

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is probably not going to get any Christmas cards any time soon from Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley. In fact, Heisley just told me to send over a bunch of coal to put in Kupchak’s stockings.

Needless to say, the Lakers have benefited greatly from the presence of the 7-foot Spaniard, whose high basketball IQ and low-maintenance personality has been the perfect complement to the hard-driven, super-confident Bryant.

In two meetings against the Cavaliers last season, Gasol averaged 20 points and 12.5 rebounds. He made 11 of 13 shots from the field in the Jan. 19 game at Staples, and three weeks later Gasol and Odom combined for 46 points and 29 rebounds in a 101-91 Laker win on Feb. 8.

The Lakers’ frontline thoroughly dominated the Cavs, 104-52, in points in the paint in the two games. Add Artest in the mix and the Lakers will have an even bigger advantage.

Cleveland tried to fix its frontcourt issues this offseason by trading for O’Neal. The problem is, O’Neal’s best days are behind him and his level of play is more in line with DJ Mbenga than Bynum.

Ho!…Ho!….Ho!….

With Shaq no longer Shaq, the Cavs have been leaning Mo Williams to help LeBron on offense. Unfortunately, Williams is more like a starting pitcher than a starting point guard, finding his groove on every fifth day.

So, unless Williams and O’Neal have an out-of-body experience and play out of their minds, expect two things to happen on Christmas Day: the Lakers should dominate the Cavs…again…and Nike will blitz the audience with an endless stream of Kobe and LeBron puppet commercials.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Ho!…Ho!….Ho!….

Sincerely, Santa

It’s been an incredible 18-year ride, Big Diesel. Thanks for the ferocious dunks. Thanks for the MVPs and the championships. And thanks for the great one-liners. You’ve been a huge force in the NBA for nearly two decades, a true dominant center the league may never see again. But, unfortunately, the end is nearing and it’ s time to hang up the sneakers for good. Your skills have diminished and, at times, you’ve been embarrassingly bad. It happens to all of us. One day you’ve got the world on your fingertips and the next you’re sitting at home in your lazy chair watching CNN World News Tonight. Based on your career low in points (11.2), rebounds (6.6) and field goal percentage (52.6), you just don’t have it any more.

Shaquille O'Neals 18th season in the NBA could very well be his last. The Diesel is averaging career lows in points, rebounds and field goal percentage.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer recently wrote:

If anyone just watched this one Cavs game, and plenty of people in Houston did including some that know a lot about basketball, you could come to the conclusion that Shaquille O’Neal’s time is over. In truth, he looked terrible in this loss. It was the first time this season he looked this way. This on a day when he was playing against a 6-6 center in Chuck Hayes, a game where most thought he put the Cavs over the top.

After shooting the ball pretty well in the preseason, Shaq has not been as effective as in the regular season. A prime issue is that he just doesn’t get much lift on his shots. This is not a new problem, but Shaq has not compensated for it by adding loft to his hooks. He continues to shoot them they way he did five years ago, like a line drive. Like his free throws. But when your arm is more than 11 feet in the air, like it used to be, you have a better chance than when it is just over 10 feet in the air. The angle doesn’t work as well. But beyond that, he’s missing easy layups and he has been for several weeks now.

When you ask Shaq about this he gives a standard answer, which is he is no longer a focus of the offense and he isn’t looking to take 20 shots a night. That he wants to come in an be a complementary piece. That is what he’s been saying since day one and it is also true. But that doesn’t explain why his shooting percentage is down nearly 10 percent this season.

Shaq has been very effective for the Cavs in certain ways. He has directly helped the Cavs defend the paint, score more points in the paint, free shooters and keep opponents honest. He has shown against some big centers what his value is. It is not fair to look at this game, the second night of a back-to-back, and make a proclamation. I am sure that is what some will do. But it is fair to point out where he’s struggling right now and this game showed it.

And it’s not just the writers who think Shaq’s done. His own teammates think he’s done.

LeBron James said: “While [O'Neal] was out, things flowed because we were playing loose and we had a certain lineup going. We haven’t had enough games with him in the lineup and coach is figuring out the best lineups to play. So, it still is an adjustment period.”

Translation, according to the Cavs’ franchise player, Cleveland doesn’t need the 37-year-old future Hall-of-Famer. At least not this old, broken-down version of The Big Aristotle. The expiration date on this old, spoiled athlete says: must use by 3-30-09. The Cavs are now realizing that Shaq’s usefulness is done and it’s time to dispose their big offseason pick-up and eat his big, fat contract for a year.

“I felt pretty good, I missed a couple chippies,” said O’Neal after a loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.

“We made a lot of silly mistakes and we had multiple chances to win,” Shaq added.

Those quotes are Shaq’s favorite over the years. Anytime his teams lose a game, he goes to the “I missed a couple of chippies” and “we made a lot of silly mistakes” cards. He said it when he was Orlando, he said it when he was a Laker, he said it when he was in Miami, and he said it when he was in Phoenix.

It’s the same song and dance with O’Neal and his act is growing old.

Time to leave the stage and take your final bow, Shaq.

Sincerely,

OneManFastBreak Editor

The latest gem from the Big Quotatious was the comment he made about him and fellow Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

When 7-foot-1 O’Neal was asked about his relationship with 7-foot-3 Ilgauskas, the Cavs’ longtime center until this season, Shaq said, “Myself and [Ilgauskas], we are the best center in the game.”

O’Neal has started every game for the Cavaliers this season and Ilgaukas has spelled him time, but the Diesel doesn’t think he has to do the job all by himself. At 37, Shaq realizes that he can’t dominate a game for 40 minutes and has to pick his spots.

This is where he believes having Big Z as the backup helps the Cavaliers.

“I realize we’re gonna share minutes, so it’s vital we go out there and give it all we got,” O’Neal said. “It’s good to have an excellent big man like him as the backup.”

Kevin McHale talked about Cleveland’s early-season woes during TNT’s postgame show on Thursday and hopefully Cavaliers coach Mike Brown was listening. McHale said the Cavaliers’ biggest problem on offense is spacing.

McHale pointed out that power forward Anderson Varejao does not have the shooting range to stretch a defense, and because of this the Cavaliers are having a hard time stretching the defense and their first two opponents – Boston and Toronto – basically packed the paint. Both teams were daring Varejao to beat them from the outside and Varejao did not make enough shots to force the Celtics and Raptors to adjust their defense.

Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao has not meshed well with center Shaquille O'Neal after two games.

McHale explained that Varejao is not a pick-and-pop player. He’s more a pick-and-roll guy, and when he dives to the basket he ends up clogging the lane with Shaq.

Throughout his career, O’Neal has played with forwards who can make an 18-footer: Horace Grant, Robert Horry and Udonis Haslem. When O’Neal was in Phoenix, he ran into the same issues with Amare Stoudemire. Stoudemire prefers to roll the basket instead of popping out to the top of the circle, creating a logjam in the 3-second area.

In their two losses, the Cavaliers shot just 37% and have yet to score more than 92 points. For O’Neal to be effective in their offense, the Cavs need a 4-man who can consistently make jump shots.

The quick solution would be to have LeBron James play power forward, have Anthony Parker and Mo Williams in the backcourt and insert Jamario Moon at small forward. Or, when Delonte West returns, coach Mike Brown can play West and Williams in the backcourt, move Parker to small forward and have LeBron at power forward.

The bottom line is, Varejao and Shaq can’t be on the court at the same time.